Living in Sydney it seems crazy that we had never spent a weekend on the Central Coast. I think in the past we’ve always headed to the Blue Mountains because it’s so different to where we live on the Beaches or to Canberra because we just love it there. This winter we decided to take our planned long weekend to head up the coast to explore the Central Coast.
I am really embarrassed about how little I know about the Central Coast. Who knew that there were so many little suburbs, that there were huge waterways and forests too. Yes, hundreds of thousands of people probably know that but I didn’t. Both my husband and I were completely ignorant – how awful. But now we know and now we know how much more there is to see and do.
At the time of our visit a lot of “attractions” were closed because of the impact of Covid-19. You will see that a lot of the things I planned to do with the family couldn’t happen but we still had full days and it’s all the more reason to visit again.
If we had visited in Summer, I think we would have spent a lot more time on the beach. So if you’re visiting in Summer you had better factor that in.
This post has enough to keep you entertained for a three day visit and starts from the drive up to the Central Coast. I’ve set out what we did and also what we wanted to do on each day of our visit. I will put together a long list of all the things I know about that would be great to do on a weekend on the Central Coast.
A weekend on the Central Coast (in Winter)
Driving up from Sydney
There are lots of different places to stop off on the way up from Sydney. The one place I was desperate to try just didn’t fit in with the timing of our trip – Saddles in Mt White. It’s a restaurant with great reviews, I was wanting to just stop off at the bakery but we couldn’t find the time.
Another place that people love to stop off at is Australian Reptile Park. It’s a really great stop off but just beware it can take hours to get through because not only are there the reptiles and the animals but there is a great playground!
If you just want to stop off somewhere for a picnic then you could try Parsley Bay or Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury River. It’s a really sweet scenic little spot on the water. We once drove all the way up there just to find pelicans… it wasn’t our most successful trip but we did see some lovely scenery and a goat.
Day 1
Going West. My main ideas didn’t work but I had some back up plans!
I was aiming to take the kids to Tree Tops and the Adventure Park as the introduction to the Central Coast.
Tree Tops and Amazement Farm and Fun Park
Tree Tops is legendary, I’ve not heard a single person who has gone say that it wasn’t good. It’s the high ropes course out on the Central Coast which has varying levels suitable to little kids and big kids. It’s like Taronga’s High Ropes but more extensive. There are also trampolines up high in the forest, how cool does that sound. Just a note on it though, your child must be 3 years or older to get involved.
Amazement Farm Fun Park has loads to do from farm animals and a bird sanctuary to mazes. I really wanted to take my kids to this because they love love going through those mazes.
Neither of those materialized so instead we went South to Long Jetty.
Long Jetty Town
Going South.
So with both of those closed we headed into Long Jetty, the town to see what was there, specifically three things.
- Glass Onion Society and Green Tangerine Cafe (they are both pretty well known),
- The Long jetty onto Tuggerah Lakes and Tuggerah Lakes 12km Cycleway.
- A playground, any playground.
The Long Jetty
First up we visited the name sake of Long Jetty – The Long Jetty on Tuggerah Lakes.
Long Jetty is the longest jetty in New South Wales. It’s not as big as Busselton in WA and you can get it down really quickly actually. We did the walk in less than 15 minutes and that was with stopping to watch the Pellys and fish too.
I have been reading up on the area of course and trying to plot our trip and thought that because there is a 12km cycleway along Tuggerah Lakes that it circled the lake. I pictured the lake being not much bigger than Narrabeen lakes. Well I couldn’t be more wrong the Lakes cover and area of 80km.
It’s so beautiful and such a huge part of this landscape.
It was cold and the kids were miserable, my daughter kept panicking about falling into the Lake… typical. So we bribed her with food and headed to the main road which has some great cafes and little shops. Very cool.
The Cafes
We at a Glass Onion Society. You could also try the Green Tangerine cafe across the road, I’ve heard it’s as good.
Glass Onion Society has quite quirky decor and comes as a complete suprise. It’s the type of place you would expect to see in the inner west of Sydney or Surry Hills. Check out their Instagram page.
The kids (and by that I include my husband) all had egg and bacon rolls and gorgeous thick shakes. I had one of their ever changing toastie of the day.
We would definitely eat there again!
Playgrounds – Liberty Playground and Lion’s Park
After eating the kids had energy to burn and they were still a little grumpy about having walked a Jetty in the cold. I had to find them something they wanted to do. So, we headed to the Liberty Playground at Salt Creek Reserve. There are actually two playgrounds in close proximity to each other (across the road from one another) but this one had more parking and looked bigger so we headed there.
Liberty playground has a big enclosed area perfect for toddlers and little kids. The playground centers around a big cover sandpit that has equipment in and around it. There is a see-saw and small slide. Just outside the enclosed area is a climbing dome for bigger kids and sets of swings.
Right next to the playground is a small dirt bike track. I wish we had taken the kids bikes because they would have loved to get stuck into this.
Across the road is Lions Park. That playground is better for older kids and has a massive rock ship with ladders and a slide. For reviews of both playgrounds check out Playing in Puddles a local blog for the Central Coast.
Top tip: in hindsight I would have packed the kids bicycles and got us all to ride along the water from The Long Jetty to Salt Creek Reserve. After the playground I would head to one of the cafes in Long Jetty for lunch but would book ahead because it can get very busy!
Golf
Last activity of the day and the most important for my son was golf. We booked a round of golf at Magenta Shores Golf Course and spent the afternoon and early evening cruising around the course on golf buggies. It was a really special couple of hours together.
The Golf Course is really stunning and looks out over the sea to the East and the Tuggerah Lakes to the right.
Pelican Feeding at The Entrance
If you’re looking for another afternoon activity there is always the Pelican Feeding. At 3:30 every afternoon these pelicans (about 50 in all) swarmed to The Entrance to be fed.
The local council has put a special space in place for them to be fed with stairs for people to sit on and watch.
Note: The Pelican Feeding at the Entrance is closed until Level 3 restrictions / Covid-19 levels.
Just be aware that it does get really really full and some people are ridiculous with their self-taking. I’m amazed that no human or pelican was injured in the selfie taking affair – grown adults almost trampling pelicans to get a close up with one.
Top tip: get there early and take something to sit on, head down to the front row of steps and not in the yellow lines.
Day 2
Wyong Milk Factory
Going West (again) .
Whenever people talk about driving to or through the Central Coast I hear about The Wyong Milk Factory. I’ve read so many reviews on the place too so had to check it out for myself. I’m sorry to say I was disappointed. It was okay but not worth driving to see. If you’re driving past and you need a stop off point then sure, definitely pop in or if you’re going to visit Treetops or Yarramalong Turf for the sunflowers then yes, visit.
Wyong Milk Factory is a multi-purpose site. It’s home to a cafe, a tavern, a playground, chocolate shop and cheese shop. I was expecting more, maybe a historical area, a few exhibits for the kids to interact with but nope it’s more just a place to eat and let the kids play for a few minutes.
My kids mistook the name for “Wrong Milk Factory” so now it’s a running joke. But we stayed and ate, watched some chocolates get made and played in the playground. It is actually a good a little playground with a swing, boat to steer and two connect cubby houses.
Norah Head Lighthouse and Rock pools
Going North.
This has to be the greatest discovery of the day! Norah Head! What a fantastic place to spend hours and hours.
I had seen various suggestions online about visiting the lighthouse and climbing to the top but unfortunately it was closed due to Covid. It’s still a lovely lighthouse to look at and if you take a picnic you can picnic underneath on the beautiful green grass looking out over the ocean. My poor daughter was desperate to have a picnic.
But, the highlight of Norah Head and definitely a highlight of our weekend on the Central Coast was the rock pools and beach lying beneath the lighthouse. It was pure magic. We spent hours and hours looking through all the pools. To my knowledge there is nowhere as good as this in Sydney. Not even Long Reef on the Northern Beaches compares. Unfortunately (or fortunately) no pic or post would do it justice. What a special place to spend hours of holiday time.
Day 3
This was the day to head to the south end of the Central Coast.
Whale watching from the iconic lookouts
During the winter months one of the most popular things to do in Sydney and the Central Coast is whale watch. There are so many great lookout points. We chose to head to Crackhead Lookout in Bateau Bay. We didn’t see any whales but the views from the north of the Central Coast around to the south end are amazing. No photo really does it justice. There are walks from this point so you can spend a morning there followed by a picnic at the lookout, if it’s not too crowded.
At the same time we were at Crackhead Lookout, locals at Captain Cook Lookout at Copacobana were witnessing 15 whales breaching that could be seen even without binoculars. Poor choice on our part.
Avoca Lake
If I had things my way we would have then travelled down to Lake Avoca to hire peddle boats (those four seater boats). Unfortunately, Aqua Fun – the place you hire them – is closed until September.
Eating out in Avoca and Kincumber
Next on the plan was pizza at the famous Bombini in Kincumber but takeaway doesn’t happen on Sunday and there are rumours that it is closing. Instead we went to Higher Ground just around the corner.
Next time we would grab a take away from Higher Grounds and find a picnic spot close by or visit Like Minds which I have read so many positive reviews about.
Bouddi National Park
Then we headed to Bouddi National Park at the very south end of the Central Coast. Driving from Avoca to Bouddi head onto The Scenic Road which winds through forests and the National Park. It feels like the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, it’s really beautiful.
The National Park is massive and has loads of stunning walks I wanted to take the kids along the Putty Beach walk to Gerrin lookout so that they could see Palm Beach, it’s a short easy 1.2km walk starting on the sand and then heading up the rocks. Unfortunately it was so so full. I think most of Sydney may have been visiting. I did however get to take the kids onto the beach and show them Barrenjoey Lighthouse on Palm Beach which is where we had walked the week before.
Special Events
Central Coast Aqua Park
During the summer months you can head to Gosford and play at Central Coast Aqua Park. It is a inflatable course set out on Brisbane Water, right next to Gosford Olympic Swimming Pool, that looks awesome.
Sunflowers
There are certain things that only happen on select weekends on the Central Coast. One of these is Sunflower Picking. You heard me right – sunflower picking. It’s such an incredible experience.
Hosted by Yarramalong Turf Supplies, you drive onto their farm to a “hidden location” to pick as many sunflowers as you want. You won’t believe how tall they are, towering over us adults. Make sure to take some garden sheers with you.
You should follow Yarramalong Turf Supplies on Facebook if you’re interested in finding out when the harvests are scheduled .
You pay an entrance fee for a family or up to 5 people it was $50 when we visited and then you pay per stem you pick.
This had to be the highlight of our entire trip.
Where we stayed
For our long weekend on the Central Coast we stayed at the Pullman Magenta Shores which is a large golf estate just north of the Entrance.
There are two and three bedroom villas and clusters of them are joined by connected gardens.
My kids loved that there was a tennis court and a big pool but in the middle of winter we were not swimming. There is an indoor heated pool too but it is more a lap pool. My daughter also loved the small playground that was a minute walk away from our villa.
The real reason we stayed there though was the golf course. As I said, it’s a beautiful course overlooking the sea on the left and the lakes on the right.
The Pullman Magenta Shores also has private access to a beach but it’s a wild open sea so not for swimming. It’s gorgeous for a walk though.
We cooked most nights but you can eat at one of the two restaurants on site. I was really impressed and surprised by the quality of the meals, even the kids food was good quality. And the service is as brilliant. The staff at the Pullman were all so lovely and engaging with the kids.
The Villa decor is a little outdated but on the whole it was really good and spacious and with the kitchen layout it really worked for us. We would definitely stay there again.
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